Community Gardens Policy

Policy statement

It is Council policy to support the establishment of community gardens in the municipality and to encourage the development of community gardens on appropriate private and Council controlled land.

Objectives

The objectives of this policy are to enable the development of community gardens and to provide Council with a consistent approach in responding to requests for funding and support to establish and resource community gardens.

Context/rationale

Community gardens are multi-functional spaces that provide a range of physical, social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits.

Community gardens are increasingly being recognised as a tool to facilitate educational opportunities, as well as promoting community connectedness through the sharing of knowledge, skills and resources.

Community gardens can be divided into either shared or individual plots, however most gardens consist of a combination of both in order to cater for a range of community needs.

There are also variations on traditional models, such as school kitchen gardens, demonstration gardens, sensory gardens and memorial gardens.

For the purpose of this policy, community gardens are defined as places where people can come together to grow produce, to learn, share, relax, reflect and make friends; they may also allow space for art, celebration and solitude.

Support for community gardens is identified as a key priority in the Council Plan:

Council Goal 1.1 - Council will work to build a stronger sense of community within neighbourhoods and across the municipality, and create new opportunities for social networks and civic engagement.Action: Support the establishment and sustainability of community-driven community gardens and increase local social connection opportunities (through implementation of Community Garden Policy and Guidelines).

When used to grow produce, community gardens also have the opportunity to promote sustainable gardening practices, reduce food miles, support local economies, increase community resilience to climate change and meet a growing need to access fresh, affordable and culturally-appropriate food.